The figure at left illustrates gene expression changes in response to nicotine, in different areas of the brain (labels at top) and different developmental ages (labels at bottom) of adolescent female rats. See Polesskaya et al. (2007) Neurotoxicol. Teratol. 29, 126-140.

The Fryxell lab is engaged in research in functional genomics, molecular neuroscience, and molecular evolution.

We are interested in gene expression and gene function in the nervous system. This includes animal models of development and drug addiction. It also includes human studies of the genetic factors that influence cognition, cognitive aging, drug addiction, inherited diseases, and stroke.

We are also engaged in computational analyses of gene expression clustering and molecular evolution in the human genome and other genomes.

We use a variety of molecular and computational techniques, including DNA microarray and RT-PCR gene expression analysis, human SNP analysis, transgenic organisms (knockout mice), DNA sequencing, classical genetics, behavior genetics, developmental genetics, computational analysis of gene expression and molecular evolution.

We use a broad range of target organisms, from humans, mice and rats to fruit flies and bacteria.